A MAN  AND  A MAN’S  JOB 


ROBERT  WATSOIN 
M.A.,  Ph.D.,  D.D. 


A iVlan  and  Man’s  Job 


A SERMON 

Oelivered  in  the 
Scotch  Presbyterian  Church 
New  York  City 
January  2Sth,  1QI7 


Bjr  the  Paetor,  th* 

REV.  ROBERT  WATSON 

Ph.D.,  D.O. 


Printe*i  from  a Stenographic  Report 


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I ‘t  , 


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A Man  and  a Man’s  Job 

By  Dr.  Robert  W.<tson 

^4/^‘^OME  and  see” — “Where”  not  “W'hom”  wa.s 
^ j their  inquiry.  “Master  where  dwellest 
thou?”  Yet  John’s  statement  was — “Behold 
the  Lamb  of  God."  “Why?”  “Who  taketh  away  the  sin 
of  the  world!”  “For  the  Son  of  Man  came  to  seek 
and  to  save  the  lost.”  “The  Son  of  Man  came  not  to 
be  ministered  unto  but  to  minister.”  “Let  this  mind 
be  in  you  which  was  also  in  Christ  Jesus.”  “Who 
gave  himself  for  us  that  he  might  redeem  us  from  all 
iniquity  and  purify  unto  himself  a peculiar  people 
zealous  of  good  works.” 

These  texts  outline  both  The  Man  and  His  Job. 
•\  peculiar  people.  Then  all  the  work  of  the  Son  of 
Man  was  to  produce  a peculiar  people.  The  world  is 
full  of  peculiar  people,  but  there  are  many  varieties  of 
peculiarities.  Every  Christian  is  a peculiar  person 
but  every  peculiar  person  is  not  a Christian.  Every 
leader  of  a peculiar  people  is  not  a minister  of  the 
Gospel,  but  every  minister  of  the  Gospel  is  the  leader 
of  a peculiar  people  and  the  peculiarities  are  marked, 
they  cannot  be  missed.  Nevertheless,  it  takes  a 
Christian  to  understand  the  peculiarities  that  are  the 
characteristics  of  a Christian.  Our  Lord  was  never, 
and  has  never  been  understood  by  the  world  nor  can 
his  consistant  followers  expect  to  be  understood. 

What  things  constitute  a Christian's  peculiarity? 


1.  He  is  a creature  of  dual  birth.  He  has  been 
bom  once  of  the  flesh  and  then  of  the  spirit.  Except 
a man  be  born  anew — from  above — he  cannot  be  a 
Christian,  no  matter  how  bright  he  is,  brave  he  is, 
good  he  is,  cultured  he  is,  capable  he  is,  conscientious 
he  is.  Unless  he  has  been  twice  born  he  is  outside 
the  family  of  God.  VVe  may  look  on  him  and  love  him 
and  recognize  he  is  not  far  from  being  at  home  in 
God,  but  at  the  best  he  is  still  outside  the  door,  nor 
can  he  enter  here  until  he  is  born  again.  Our  Lord 
made  this  very  clear  to  Nicodemus  yet  there  are 
many  who  continue  to  stumble  just  like  the  ruler  of 
old.  To  the  Greeks  foolishness  and  to  the  Jews  a 
stumbling  block. 

A Christian  is  a child  of  God  not  by  creation  but  by 
regeneration.  Spiritually  he  is  born  into  this  relation- 
ship and  legally  he  is  adopted  so  that  he  has  a right  to 
all  the  privileges  of  a son  of  God.  “As  many  as  re- 
ceived Him  to  them  gave  he  the  authority  to  become  the 
Children  of  God.”  Hence  they  are  heirs  of  God  and 
joint  heirs  with  Christ  to  the  incorruptible  inheritance. 

2.  The  Christian  lives  in  a very  real  and  very  try- 
ing sense  a double  life.  Yet  he  is  not  a hypocrite. 
“When  I would  do  good,  evil  is  present  with  me.” 
“That  which  I would  not,  that  1 do  and  that  which  I 
would,  I do  not.”  The  double  life  grows  out  of  his 
dual  birth.  The  spirit  striveth  against  the  flesh  and 
the  flesh  lusteth  against  the  spirit.  It  is  a terrible 
combat.  The  Christian  is  seeking  to  put  off  the  old 
man  with  his  lusts  and  to  put  on  the  new  man  which 


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is  after  Christ  in  righteousness  and  holiness.  This  is 
all  a great  mysteiy  to  the  man  of  the  world  who  imag- 
ines that  a Christian  professes  to  be  so  good  that  he 
never  does  anything  wrong.  Vet  the  Chri.stian  con- 
stantly confesses  his  wrong-doing  and  affirms  his  ina- 
bility to  do  right  apart  from  God.  'fhe  transformation 
into  the  likeness  of  the  image  of  the  perfect  man  is 
slow  and  laborious. 

3.  The  Christian  is  peculiar  because  he  is  not  his 
own  master,  lie  knows  this  to  be  a fact,  constantly 
acknowledges  the  same  and  rejoices  in  consequence. 
He  was  bought  with  a price.  He  was  redeemed  with 
precious  blood  from  all  iniquity  and  purified  from  the 
effects  of  his  former  servitude,  now  to  serve  another. 
The  old  ser\'ice  was  debasing,  galling,  sad;  this  new 
service — uplifting,  free,  (willing),  glad.  “My  yoke  is 
easy  and  my  burden  is  light.”  The  Christian  doesn’t 
even  live  his  own  life.  He  is  possessed  by  another  and 
the  other  lives  in  him.  “I  live  yet  not  I but  Christ 
liveth  in  me.”  When  a knock  comes  to  the  door  and 
he  is  asked,  “Who  lives  here?”  he  can  reply  like 
Martin  Luther,  “I  used  to  live  here  but  now  Jesus 
Christ  lives  here.  Consequently  Stephen  Girard’s 
clerk  could  work  for  him  any  time,  day  or  night,  ex- 
cept on  Sunday  for  his  master  had  commanded.  “In 
it  thou  shaft  not  do  any  work.” 

4.  The  Christian  is  f>eculiar  because  of  his  business. 
.\11  Christians  have  the  same  busincs.  By  trade  or 
profession  the  Christian  may  be  the  same  as  the  man 
of  the  world  and  he  will  always  do  the  work  or  fill  the 


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position  better  than  the  average.  He  is  diligent  and 
faithful  and  fervent.  He  is  all  this  and  more  as  a 
Christian  for  his  is  the  business  of  the  King.  Like 
William  Cary  he  may  earn  his  living  by  cobbling  shoes 
but  he  lives  to  bring  in  the  Kingdom  of  God.  Soon 
after  the  outbreak  of  the  present  European  war  Pre- 
mier Asquith  entertained  Lord  Kitchener  at  dinner. 
At  the  close  of  the  meal  Kitcheuer  abruptly  inquired 
of  his  host,  “Who  is  that  woman  that  sat  by  me?” 
He  replied,  “She  is  my  wife’s  companion  and  closest 
friend.”  “What  do  you  know  of  her?”  “A  good  deal 
but  I will  send  for  Lady  Asquith  and  she  can  tell  you 
everything  you  want  to  know.”  After  some  perfunc- 
tory inquiries  of  Lady  Asquith,  Kitchener  said,  “You 
must  search  this  woman’s  room.”  “Oh,  that  is  im- 
possible,” was  the  reply,  “ I cannot  search  her  rooms, 
she  is  my  dearest  friend  and  trusted  companion.’’ 
“Then  I will  search  them  myself”  responded  Kitch- 
ener. 'I'o  prevent  this  the  rooms  were  searched  by  the 
family  and  it  was  discovered  that  “the  dearest  friend” 
was  a valued  agent  of  the  German  Government.  She 
was  earning  a handsome  salary  as  a “companion”  but 
she  was  serving  the  Kaiser.  F.very  Christian  is  earn- 
ing a living  in  the  world  but  he  is  serving  the  King  of 
Kings. 

They  serve  in  many  ways.  It  was  only  a little  later 
that  another  exposure  occured  in  London.  One  of  the 
clo.sest  friends,  not  only  of  the  aristocracy  but  of  roy- 
alty who  had  lived  in  England  for  twenty-five  years 
ana  had  attended,  faithfully  during  that  time,  all  great 


social  and  civic  functions  was  found,  also,  to  be  an 
employee  of  the  Kaiser.  Diligently  he  had  kept  him- 
self in  touch  with  all  the  affairs  of  state  that  he  might 
thereby  inform  his  master  and  serve  his  interests.  So 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  calls  upon  his  servants  in  this 
world  to  be  as  loyal  to  his  interest  as  the  men  of  the 
world  are  to  Kings  and  Kaisers.  The  Kings  of  this 
world  expect  the  best  from  their  serv’ants.  Our  Lord 
can  ask  for  nothing  less. 

A number  of  years  ago,  as  some  of  you  will  remem- 
ber, an  English  Admiral  was  shot  for  not  doing  his 
utmost.  He  was  a man  of  ability,  he  was  not  a traitor 
but  no  matter  what  his  other  qualifications,  he  was 
considered  not  only  unfit  to  longer  command,  but  un- 
fit to  live  because  in  a trying  hour  he  had  not  done  his 
utmost.  So  the  Christian,  to  enjoy  his  privileges, 
needs  to  always  be  and  do  his  best. 

5.  The  Christian  is  peculiar  because  of  his  interests. 
They  begin  in  himself  and  they  reach  to  God  and  em- 
brace all  the  world.  Everything  that  touches  and 
blesses  or  curses  humanity  is  of  intesest  to  the  Christ- 
ian. He  is  alive  on  the  subject  of  Prohibition,  child 
labor,  shorter  working  hours,  sufficient  wage,  proper 
homes,  hospitals,  hotels,  prisons,  penitentaries,  schools, 
colleges.  Home  and  Foreign  Missions,  Immigrants, 
Indians,  Negros,  Hottentots,  Turks,  Germans,  French, 
English,  Asiatics,  Mexicans  and  Americans,  as  well  as 
an  his  own  home  and  family,  his  own  Church  and 
brethren  in  the  Lord.  The  man  of  the  world  may 
have  many  excuses  for  not  supporting  the  church,  for 


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not  being  interested  in  Social  Service,  for  not  giving 
to  Foreign  Missions  but  the  Christian  must  include 
one  and  all  of  these  things.  His  interests  are  uni- 
versal. 

6.  The  Christian  is  peculiar  because  of  his  other 
worldliness.  He  lives  in  this  world  but  does  not  be- 
long here.  He  is  criticised  for  living  with  “his  head 
in  the  clouds”  although  his  feet  are  on  the  earrh.  It 
is  fortunate  that  his  feet  remain  on  the  earth  for  there 
by  he  brings  blessings  to  all.  “How  beautiful  upon 
the  mountains  are  the  feet  of  him  that  bringeth  good 
tidings  that  publisheth  peace.”  The  Christian  could 
not  render  the  earthly  ministries  did  he  fail  to  keep 
his  head  in  the  clouds.  “Let  this  mind  be  in  you 
which  was  also  in  Christ  Jesus.”  “Set  your  affections 
upon  the  things  that  are  above  where  Christ  sitteth  at 
the  right  hand  of  God.”  These  are  the  Christian’s 
definite  instructions.  He  cannot  settle  down  here, 
therefore,  he  looks  for  a better  country  even  a heav- 
enly. He  goes  about  doing  good. 

7.  The  Christian  is  peculiar  because  he  lives  by 
faith,  not  by  sight.  The  promise  of  God  is  more  val- 
uable to  him  than  a bank  account.  He  asks  but  only 
that  he  may  be  able  to  give.  He  labors  not  to  get 
but  because  he  already  has.  He  is  the  strongest  yet 
the  weakest  of  men.  “When  I am  weak,  then  am  I 
strong.”  “He  endures  as  seeing  Him  who  is  invis- 
ible.” He  is  the  happiest  man  on  earth  yet  is  blessed 
because  he  mourns  daily.  He  is  full  of  joy  not  be- 
cause thinge  go  his  way  but  because  he  is  going  God’s 


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way.  He  is  the  most  contented  of  all  men  yet  never 
satisfied.  “I  have  learned  in  whatsoever  state  I am 
herewith  to  be  content.”  ”0  wretched  man  that  1 
*am,  who  shall  deliver  me?"  “Not  that  I have  already 

attained Forgetting  the  things  which  are  behind  I 

press  toward  the  mark  for  the  prize  of  the  high  calling 
of  God  in  Christ  Jesus.”  The  Christian  never  can  be 
satisfied  —for  he  seeks  the  perfection  of  God — till  he 
awakes  in  God’s  likeness.  “We  know  that  when  he 
shall  appear  we  shall  be  like  him.”  The  Christian  is 
the  most  agreeable  of  all  men  and  yet  to  many,  the 
most  disagreeable.  “As  far  as  in  him  lieth  he  lives 
peaceably  with  all  men.”  Yet  he  is  always  stirring 
men  up  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come.  His  very 
presence  is  a constant  reproach  to  non-christians.  He 
is  sure  there  is  but  one  way  and  as  he  walks  in  it  him- 
self, he  continually  is  urging  others.  “This  is  the  way, 
walk  ye  in  it.” 

The  Christian  waits  and  works  but  he  does  iK)t 
worry.  He  waits  not  that  all  things  may  come  to  him 
but  because  all  things  are  already  his.  For  Christ  is 
his  and  God  is  Christ’s,  therefore,  all  are  his.  He 
waits  on  God  for  heart  cleansing,  for  renewed  strength, 
for  confirmed  courage,  for  sufficient  grace  to  spend, 
to  use,  to  give  all  that  he  has  and  grow  thereby.  In 
my  first  pastorate  I had  a very  peculiar  elder  who 
had,  by  his  generosity  to  all  good  things  and  all  kinds 
of  men,  gone  through  two  fortunes  and  was  then  busy 
spending  the  third.  It  seemed  a great  mystery  to  us 
that  be  should  always  be  provided  just  as  the  former 

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had  been  spent.  He  was  a wastrel  for  God,  therefore 
God  saw  to  it  that  he  should  never  want. 

The  Christian  loves  because  he  is  already  loved. 
“We  love  him  because  he  first  loved  us.”  The  Christ- 
ian seeks  to  love  even  as  Christ  loved.  “By  this  shall 
all  men  know,”  said  our  Lord,  “that  ye  are  my  disciples 
when  ye  have  love  one  for  the  other.”  The  Christian 
scatters  love  like  autumn  leaves  for  God  lives  in  him 
and  it  becomes  second  nature  to  love,  for  “God  is 
love.”  Yes,  the  Christian  is  a vessel  sanctified  and 
meet  to  contain  God,  to  be  used  by  God,  to  reveal  God 
and  even  to  lift  up  God  in  Christ  Jesus  that  all  men 
may  be  drawn  unto  him. 

No  wonder  the  Christian  is  a mystery  and  an  un- 
solved problem  to  the  man  of  the  world.  His  pecu- 
liarities oft  times  make  the  Christian  appear  to  be  a 
fool  and  so  peculiar  is  he  that  he  glories  in  being 
counted  a fool  for  Christ’s  sake.  Let  the  man  of  the 
world  shake  his  head  and  exclaim  “It’s  to  much  for 
me.  I don’t  understand  him.  I cannot  fathom  him.” 
The  Christian  at  least  is  in  the  public  eye.  He  can- 
not be  hid.  He  is  watched  and,  although  not  under- 
stood, he  is  a living  Epistle  known  and  read  of  all 
men. 

Do  these  peculiarities  appeal  to  you?  Would  you 
like  to  manifest  these  characteristics  and  activities? 
What  manner  of  men  ought  ye  to  be  who  profess  to  be 
Christians  ? These  peculiarities  are  not  natural  to  the 
human  family.  Very  few  yet  exhibit  them  in  any 

marked  degree.  But  we  have  seen  enough  o( 


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them  in  the  tew  to  aitsure  u^  that  to  all  there  is  a pos- 
sibility. “All  things  are  possible  with  God.’’  "All 
things  are  possible  to  him  that  believeth.’’ 

In  the  Spanish-American  war,  it  was  claimed  that 
"the  man  behind  the  gun’’  explained  the  easy  victory. 
But  is  not  the  man  behind  the  man  the  real  explana- 
tion? Heredity,  inheritance,  truth  and  training  made 
the  difference  in  the  gunners.  So  it  is  the  man  behind 
the  Christian  that  makes  the  difference.  " Behold  the 
mani’’  The  Lord  Jesus  Christ  is  able  to  make  al 
grace  abound  toward  us,  that  we  having  all  sufficiency 
in  all  things  may  abound  unto  every  good  work.  If 
each  of  us  is  to  do  a man’s  job  we  must  get  back  to 
Christ.  He  finished  the  work  given  him  by  the  Father. 
Now'  he  continues  to  wait  on  us  and  work  in  us  till  we 
finish  our  task.  Christ  is  the  secret  of  the  Christian’s 
peculiarities.  What  a man  he  is  redeemed,  and  puri- 
fied and  zealous  of  good  works!  What  a job  is  his — 
a co-worker  with  Christ!  Lord  make  us  workmen  that 
need  not  he  ashamed.  AMF.N. 


